Whether you are a patient or visitor at Los Robles Hospital, we want your experience with us to be as pleasant as possible. We have provided helpful information to help you during your stay or while visiting a patient in the hospital.

Acute Bronchitis

Definition

Acute bronchitis is a short-term respiratory infection that may be referred to as a chest cold. The bronchi branch off the trachea, taking air from the outside into the lungs. In bronchitis, the bronchi become inflamed and produce more mucus.

Sputum cultures to check for the presence of bacteria are rarely helpful

Treatment

Acute bronchitis can be treated with rest and medications. It can take up to a month for the cough to go away.

Your doctor may recommend:

Over-the-counter medications to relieve discomfort and reduce fever

Note
: Aspirin is not recommended for children with a current or recent viral infection. Check with your doctor before giving your child aspirin.

Inhalers—to improve symptoms in adults with a history of asthma

Staying hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids throughout the day to help make your cough more productive

Antibiotics are not used for treatment because acute bronchitis is usually the result of a viral infection.

Cough suppressants are not generally recommended. Coughing is important to help you clear extra mucus from your lungs.

Avoid using cough suppressant medication. Coughing is necessary to clear mucus from your lungs. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that cough supressants not be used in children less than 2 years old. The FDA also supports not using them in children less than 4 years old.

Prevention

To help reduce your chance of getting acute bronchitis:

Use proper handwashing hygiene, especially if you are in contact with someone who is sick

Avoid contact with people who have respiratory viral or bacterial infections.

If you smoke, talk to your doctor about how you can successfully quit. Smoke weakens the lungs' resistance to infection and increases recovery time.

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

Acute bronchitis. American Academy of Family Physicians Family Doctor website. Available at:
http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/diseases-conditions/acute-bronchitis.html. Updated September 2013. Accessed February 14, 2014.